Best Online Poker UK 2026: Top Poker Sites and Variants
Online poker combines skill with gambling. We review the best UK online poker sites, top variants, and how to start playing poker online.
Best Online Poker UK 2026: Top Poker Sites and Variants
Online poker combines skill with gambling. UK online poker sites offer various variants including Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and casino poker.
This guide reviews the best UK online poker sites, top variants, and how to start playing poker online.
What is online poker?
Online poker is the digital version of poker:
• Play against other players (real money poker)
• Play against the dealer (casino poker)
• Tournaments and cash games
• Various poker variants
Real money poker is skill-based, while casino poker is house-banked.
Types of online poker
Player-vs-player poker
Traditional poker against other players:
• Texas Hold'em
• Omaha
• Seven Card Stud
• Various tournaments
• Cash games and Sit & Go
Real money poker rooms charge a small rake.
Casino poker
Poker against the dealer:
• Casino Hold'em
• Three Card Poker
• Caribbean Stud Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold'em
• Live dealer versions
Casino poker has a fixed house edge.
Video poker
Single-player poker against the machine:
• Jacks or Better
• Deuces Wild
• Joker Poker
• Aces and Faces
Video poker is RNG-based with optimal strategy.
Best UK online poker sites
Bet365 Poker
The UK's largest online poker room:
• Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and more
• Cash games and tournaments
• Large player pool
• UKGC-licensed
• Shared wallet with Bet365 Casino
William Hill Poker
Long-established UK poker room:
• Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and more
• Cash games and tournaments
• Established player pool
• UKGC-licensed
• Shared wallet with William Hill
888 Poker
Long-established online poker:
• Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and more
• Cash games and tournaments
• Large player pool
• UKGC-licensed
• Shared wallet with 888 Casino
PokerStars
The world's largest online poker room:
• All variants
• Largest tournament schedule
• Largest player pool
• UKGC-licensed (PokerStars UK)
• Separate poker software
Partypoker
Major online poker room:
• All variants
• Major tournament series
• Large player pool
• UKGC-licensed
• Entain plc owned
Sky Poker
Sky's poker room:
• Texas Hold'em, Omaha
• Smaller player pool
• UKGC-licensed
• Shared wallet with Sky Casino
Top poker variants
Texas Hold'em
The most popular poker variant:
• 2 hole cards + 5 community cards
• 4 betting rounds (preflop, flop, turn, river)
• Best 5-card hand wins
• Most popular in tournaments and cash games
Omaha
The second most popular variant:
• 4 hole cards + 5 community cards
• Must use exactly 2 hole cards + 3 community cards
• More action than Hold'em
• Pot and Pot Limit Omaha most popular
Seven Card Stud
Classic poker variant:
• 7 cards dealt (3 face down, 4 face up)
• Best 5-card hand wins
• Less popular online now
Five Card Draw
Classic poker variant:
• 5 cards dealt, draw up to 5
• Best 5-card hand wins
• Simple rules
• Less popular online
Casino Hold'em
Casino poker variant:
• Player vs dealer
• Player and dealer use 2 hole cards + 5 community cards
• Best hand wins (or dealer qualifies)
• Fixed house edge
RTP: 97.84% with optimal strategy
Three Card Poker
Casino poker variant:
• Player vs dealer
• 3 cards each
• Best hand wins
• Side bets available
RTP: 96.63% with optimal strategy
Caribbean Stud Poker
Casino poker variant:
• Player vs dealer
• 5 cards each
• Progressive jackpot side bet
• Fixed house edge
RTP: 97.42% with optimal strategy
Ultimate Texas Hold'em
Casino poker variant:
• Player vs dealer
• Texas Hold'em rules
• Multiple betting rounds
• Side bets available
RTP: 98.85% with optimal strategy (best casino poker)
Online poker bonuses
Welcome bonuses
Poker sites offer welcome bonuses:
• Matched deposit bonus
• Released in increments as you play
• Different from casino bonuses
Rakeback
Cashback on rake paid:
• 10-30% rakeback typical
• VIP programmes offer higher
• Real value for poker players
Tournament tickets
Free entry to tournaments:
• Welcome freerolls
• VIP freerolls
• Special event tickets
Loyalty programme
Poker loyalty programmes:
• Points for play
• Convert to cash or tournament tickets
• VIP tiers with better rewards
Poker strategy basics
Starting hand selection
The most important poker skill:
• Premium hands: AA, KK, QQ, AK
• Strong hands: JJ, TT, AQ, AJ
• Marginal hands: 99, 88, KQ, KJ
• Weak hands: most others
Play fewer hands in early position, more in late position.
Position
Position matters in poker:
• Late position (button, cutoff) plays more hands
• Early position (UTG) plays fewer hands
• Position advantage in betting order
Pot odds
Calculate pot odds for drawing:
• Pot odds = call amount / (pot + call)
• Compare to draw odds
• Positive expected value if pot odds > draw odds
Bankroll management
Poker bankroll management:
• 20-50 buy-ins for cash games
• 100+ buy-ins for tournaments
• Lower stakes for shorter bankroll
Video poker
Video poker is single-player poker against a machine:
Jacks or Better
The most popular video poker variant:
• Full house pays 9× (full pay version)
• RTP: 99.54% with optimal play
• Best video poker variant
Deuces Wild
Deuces (2s) are wild:
• 4 deuces = 200× payout
• RTP: 100.76% with optimal play (full pay version)
• Positive EV with optimal play
Joker Poker
Joker added as wild card:
• 5 of a kind possible
• RTP: 99.64% with optimal play (full pay version)
• Less popular than Jacks or Better
Aces and Faces
Higher payouts for four aces or four faces:
• 4 aces: 80× payout
• 4 faces: 40× payout
• RTP: 99.26% with optimal play (full pay version)
Live dealer poker
Evolution and other providers offer live dealer poker:
Live Casino Hold'em
Live dealer casino Hold'em:
• Player vs dealer
• 7 seats per table
• Side bets (Bonus, Jackpot)
• Wide stake range
Live Three Card Poker
Live dealer three card poker:
• Player vs dealer
• Side bets (Pair Plus, 6 Card Bonus)
• Wide stake range
Live Ultimate Texas Hold'em
Live dealer Ultimate Texas Hold'em:
• Player vs dealer
• Multiple betting rounds
• Side bets (Trips, Progressive)
• Wide stake range
Live Caribbean Stud Poker
Live dealer Caribbean Stud:
• Player vs dealer
• Progressive jackpot side bet
• Wide stake range
How to start playing poker online
Step 1: Choose a poker site
Select a UKGC-licensed poker site:
• Bet365 Poker
• William Hill Poker
• 888 Poker
• PokerStars UK
• Partypoker
Step 2: Register
Create an account:
• Name, address, email, phone
• Age verification (18+)
• Identity verification
Step 3: Deposit
Make a deposit:
• Debit card
• PayPal
• Skrill/Neteller
• Bank transfer
Step 4: Start at low stakes
Begin at the lowest stakes:
• 0.01/0.02 or 0.05/0.10 cash games
• $1-$5 tournament buy-ins
• Practice and learn
Step 5: Learn strategy
Improve your game:
• Read poker books
• Watch training videos
• Use poker tracking software
• Practice at low stakes
Step 6: Move up gradually
As you improve:
• Move to higher stakes
• Better opponents
• Higher rewards
Recommended:
Try Bet365 Poker: UK's largest online poker room with shared casino wallet.
Responsible gambling with poker
Poker can be engaging due to the skill element. Set deposit limits and time-outs to manage your play.
The fast pace of online poker can lead to overspending. Use responsible gambling tools to maintain control.
Free confidential help is available 24/7 from GamCare (gamcare.org.uk) and the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133).